Premier League tips

Last week's returns: Profit £44.39
Overall returns: Profit £42.56

Saturday 6th October

Manchester City vs Sunderland
City were poor midweek against Borussia Dortmund and a lunchtime kick off Saturday morning isn't ideal after playing Wednesday and given the fact Steven Fletcher hasn't stopped scoring for Sunderland since his move from Wolves in the summer, expect City's long run without a clean sheet to continue.

Given City's brilliant form home, I expect them to edge out Sunderland, but it won't be a stroll.

Manchester City 2 Sunderland 1 - 9/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Over 2.5 goals - 4/6 with Betfair - Returns of £8.33
Carlos Tevez anytime goalscorer - Evens with Bwin - Lose a fiver
Highest scoring half First - 13/5 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Down £11.67

Chelsea vs Norwich
Chelsea impressed away to Arsenal and are flying high at the top of the Premier league, with five wins from six. Norwich are struggling, and a mixture of conceding too many and not scoring enough doesn't bode well for the Canaries.

Roberto Di Matteo's men should win this home encounter and continue their fine start to the league campaign.

Chelsea 3 Norwich 0 - 7/1 with William Hill - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Juan Mata to assist the first goal - 7/1 with BoyleSports - Lose a fiver
Chelsea to win - 1/4 with Bet Victor - Returns of £6.25
Both teams to score NO - 10/11 with William Hill - Lose a fiver

Game returns - Down £13.75

Mata scored on his debut vs. Norwich City last season

Swansea vs Reading 
Swansea haven't scored in three and winless in four Premier league matches, and were out thought last week against Stoke City, whilst Reading are yet to win since their return to the top flight. Back both teams to score as they've only two clean sheets between them, both Swansea's and in their first two games.

Reading need to start picking up points and back them to get a draw away to an out of sorts Swansea here.

Swansea 1 Reading 1 - 6/1 with Ladbrokes - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Draw - 77/29 with Pinnacle - Returns of £18.27
Both teams to score YES - 9/10 with Stan James - Returns of £9.50
Under 2.5 goals - 39/40 with Bet Victor - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Profit £7.77

West Brom vs QPR
West Brom have won all three games at the Hawthorns this season and are yet to concede a goal on their home turf. QPR have made a poor start to the season; however they've a more friendly looking fixture list coming up in the next few weeks and Mark Hughes will see this game as a chance to earn their first win.

The first goal in this game will be the key one especially with the way QPR are defending at the moment; however I reckon they'll get something from their trip here.

West Brom 1 QPR 2 - 14/1 with Totesport - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Both teams to score YES - 4/5 with Stan James - Returns of £9
Draw HT/ QPR FT - 17/2 with BetVictor - Lose a fiver
Over 2.5 goals - 5/6 with SkyBet - Returns of £9.16

Match returns - Down £1.84

Wigan vs Everton
Despite playing well in games Wigan are struggling to score the goals to give themselves a chance at collecting three points. Everton on the other hand are on fire! Second in the league and with four wins from six, they could surprise everyone and make the top four this season.

Last time these two met it was a draw at the DW Stadium last year, and I reckon Wigan will get a draw here again too.

Wigan 1 Everton 1 - 6/1 with Ladbrokes - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Draw -  47/18 with Pinnacle - Returns of £18.06
Both teams to score YES - 9/10 with Stan James - Returns of £9.50
Nikica Jelavic anytime goalscorer - 15/8 with Stan James - Returns of £14.38

Match returns - Profit £21.94

West Ham vs Arsenal
Last week for these two clubs was a week of first's as West Ham won a Premier League away game for the first time since the 2nd February 2011, whilst Arsenal lost for the first time this season at home to Chelsea.

West Ham are unbeaten at home so far and Arsenal are unbeaten away from the Emirates and I expect the first to come to an end this weekend with Arsenal winning narrowly.

West Ham 1 Arsenal 2 - 8/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Both teams to score YES - 8/11 with Stan James  Returns of £8.64
Arsenal to win - 24/23 with Pinnacle - Returns of £10.22
Gervinho anytime goalscorer - 9/4 with Ladbrokes - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Down £1.14
Day returns - Profit £1.31

Gervinho is in fine goalscoring form the for Gunners

Sunday 7th October

Southampton vs Fulham
Southampton will be pleased to get back to St Marys following their third consecutive away defeat last week against Everton. Fulham have always had troubles on their travels, but they did beat Wigan in their last away match two weeks back.

If Southampton are to survive then they will need to win there home matches against sides like Fulham and I expect them to do so here.

Southampton 2 Fulham 1 - 10/1 with Betfred - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Both teams to score YES - 8/11 with Stan James - Returns of £8.64
Over 2.5 goals - 4/5 with 888Sport - Returns of £9
Highest scoring half, Second - Evens with Paddy Power - Returns of £10

Match returns - Profit £7.64

Liverpool vs Stoke
Both Liverpool and Stoke earned their first wins of the season last week in comfortable fashion. Despite a midweek defeat to Udinese in the Europa League, Liverpool have improved over the last few weeks and expect them to pick up their first Anfield win of the Premier league season on Sunday.

It won't be as many goals as last week; however given Luis Suarez's rich vein of goal scoring form, I fancy him to score in a Liverpool win.

Liverpool 2 Stoke 1 - 17/2 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Luis Suarez to score and Liverpool to win - 13/8 with Bluesquare - Lose a fiver
Both teams to score YES - 6/5 with Stan James - Lose a fiver
First team yellow card Stoke - 1/2 with bet365 - Returns of £7.50

Match returns - Down £12.50

Tottenham vs Aston Villa
Tottenham were brilliant as they finally ended their Old Trafford hoodoo last week and backing that up with a home win here is vital. Villa rescued a point at home to West Brom last week; however if they are to avoid a relegation fight, they are games they should be winning.

Andre Villas-Boas is slowly getting there with Spurs, and back them to win here quite comfortably.

Tottenham 3 Aston Villa 1 - 11/1 with William Hill - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Jermaine Defoe to score anytime - 11/10 with Bwin - Lose a fiver
Over 2.5 goals - 21/20 with You win - Lose a fiver
Tottenham to win - 1/2 with William Hill - Returns of £7.50

Match returns - Down £12.50

Newcastle United vs Manchester United
Newcastle recovered well, all be it in controversial circumstances, last week against Reading, and backed it up with an impressive win at home to Bordeaux mid-week in the Europa League. Manchester United however were poor in their defeat to Spurs, but did manage to win in Romania in the Champions League.

With Newcastle the home side, I can't see much separating these two and it'll probably be a draw.

Newcastle United 1 Manchester United 1 - 7/1 with William Hill - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Both teams to score YES - 8/11 with Stan James - Lose a fiver
Over 2.5 goals - 4/7 with 188Bet - Returns £7.85
Wayne Rooney anytime goal scorer - 15/8 with Stan James -  Lose a fiver

Match returns - Down £12.15
Day returns - Down £29.51
Weekend returns - Down £28.20
Overall returns - Profit £14.36

Accumulator of the week - Manchester City, Chelsea, Southampton and Tottenham to win - £5 returns £29.79 with Skybet

Saints to struggle

A difficult start has left Southampton bottom of the Premier League heading into the first international break. Narrow and morale deflating defeats against both Manchester sides have shown they can compete; however sandwiched between these games was a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to perennial strugglers Wigan.

When Nigel Adkins took over the reins at Southampton, the club were in the League One relegation zone (all be it at an early stage in the season), but in just two years he has overseen back-to-back promotions meaning the club are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2005. A positive transfer window was headlined when they beat the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool to the services of the Uruguayan Gaston Ramirez. The addition of Emmanuel Mayuka, who starred for Zambia in their 2012 African Nations success, could also prove to be a shrewd piece of business.

Adkins has done a brilliant job with Southampton

Under Adkins Southampton have always had a positive approach to the game, scoring more goals than any other side on their way to promotion from the Championship last year, and on the evidence of their first three games, they aren’t going to alter their mentality despite promotion. For all the positives in their attacking play, I do worry for Southampton defensively. Admittedly two of their opening three fixtures have been against the very best of what the Premier League can offer; however I worry if the likes of Jose Fonte and Jos Hooiveld are good enough.

Key player – Adam Lallana. A crowd favourite having stayed at the club even when they stooped as low as League One, Lallana is certainly reaping the rewards now and is one of the first names of the Southampton team sheet. Over the last few seasons Lallana has added more goals and if he can get anywhere near double figures then he could help steer Southampton away from the drop.

Prediction – 19^th. What Adkins has done with Southampton is brilliant; however I think they’ll struggle to survive. Much pressure is on the likes of Ricky Lambert and Jay Rodriguez to score the goals; however neither have Premier League experience and reaching double figures will be a struggle.

Two in three Premier League games is a top start for Lambert

View from a fan - Matt Wall @MattBWall

What would be a perfect season?
A perfect season would be comfortably avoiding relegation and enjoying a decent cup run.

What would be a nightmare season?
Would be finishing bottom with the lowest points tally in Premier League history, god forbid!

Do you have the right man in charge?
Without a doubt Nigel Adkins is the right man in charge, he achieved our back to back promotions and I like the way he emphasises on team spirit.

Given the choice, which Premier League player would you sign?
That’s a difficult one, but one that could’ve happened was Theo Walcott, he would rediscover his form with us!

Is Ricky Lambert good enough for the Premier League?
Although time isn’t on his side, I do think ‘Super Rickie’ has what it takes! Very similar scenario to Grant Holt who was very good last year.

Does the squad need players with more top flight experience or are you happy with the transfer additions?

It's encouraging looking at other sides like Norwich and Swansea who've done very well without much Premier League experience and it's also great for the future the way we are signing young British players, that's combined with our brilliant academy! We also added Ramirez, beating off bigger sides which is quite the coup!

Who will win promotion from the Championship?

The Championship this year is a strong league with a huge percentage of teams fancying their chances of winning promotion to the promise land that is the Premier League.

My favourites for promotion are Leicester City who have been bankrolled heavily by the Thailand company King Powers, and with Sven Goran Eriksson at the helm he has already used his status in the game to bring in players from abroad. Already adding Neil Danns, Lee Peltier, Kasper Schmichel, Sean St Ledger and David Nugent, the club have used their financial muscle to beat of competition from arguably bigger clubs.

Predicition: 1st.

Of the three relegated teams I believe West Ham have the best chance of bouncing back straight away. The shrewd appointment of Sam Allardyce has given many people the belief that they won't be in the second tier for too long. Abdoulaye Faye and Kevin Nolan are fantastic additions with Premier League aspirations. The club will obviously have to sell some of their players on high wages in Carlton Cole and Scott Parker, however with Allardyce at the helm the club will be there or there abouts.

Prediction: 2nd.

Nigel Pearson did a terrific job at Leicester in returning them to the second tier of English football, and after a year consoldating himself at Hull City this is the year I feel Hull will kick on with a promotion bid. After signing no less then three players from his former club Pearson obviously now has got the players he wants in the team. And with money to spend and a strike force of Matty Fryatt and Aaron McClean there will be goals.

Prediction: 3rd.

Nigel Atkins down a terrific job with Southampton, and he'll be hoping to copy the likes of Leicester and Norwich City over the past two years who have been promoted and then more then challenged for back-to-back promotions. The club is full of young English talent and the club are well finaced after years of trouble in that context, and with the right signings I feel Southampton are the best of the three promoted teams to challenge, despite the likes of Brighton and Peterborough having strong sides and spending well.

Prediction: 4th.

Chris Hughton inherits a Birmingham side that is likely to be picked apart by the Premier League voltures due to the clubs relegation from the Premier League. The one worry again is the lack of goals which cost them so dearly in their the unsuccesful bid to survive, and the addition of Marlon King for me isn't going to change that. Hughton will hopefully be given a good percentage of the money made from probable sales and bring it new faces.

Prediction: 5th.

The recent trend of the League one clubs being succesful in the Championship will definately be extended this year with the three promoted teams arguably the best collectively they've been. And I feel Gus Poyet's Brighton will sneak into the final play-off spot. The additions of Craig Mackail-Smith and Will Buckley will give them an extra attacking dimension, and if Brighton were to add a couple of defensive additions I see now reason why they can't make the play-offs.

Prediction: 6th.

7th- Burnley
8th- Nottingham Forest
9th- Leeds United
10th- Ipswich Town
11th- Middlesborough
12th- Reading